COMMUNITY SPANISH CLASSES FOR ADULTS

Hablas español? Now you can!

Do you want to better understand Latin-American culture? Do you wish you could communicate more confidently with your Spanish speaking neighbors? Do you need to brush up on your español for your upcoming trip abroad? Aberg Center's Spanish classes are the perfect way to improve your Spanish in a fun and supportive environment. Classes are taught by first-rate instructors; each of whom is an experienced university Spanish professor. Best of all, proceeds from our Spanish classes go to fund Aberg Center's tuition free programs. Students must be at least 18 years of age to enroll in classes.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Class Times: Monday evenings, 6:00-7:20 p.m. / 7:30-8:50 p.m.

Location: St. Matthew's Cathedral (5100 Ross Ave. Dallas, TX)

Semesters: The year is divided into three Sessions.

Weeks: Each session is 12 weeks long.

Cost: Students pay $200 per session and are responsible for purchasing their own textbook

Proceeds go to support Aberg Center for Literacy tuition-free programs!

”I have been taking Spanish classes at Aberg Center for two years and I have recognized significant improvements in my command and understanding of the language. Best of all, the classes are lively and fun!”

— MARI (SPANISH STUDENT)

LEVELS & TEXTBOOKS

Below is a list of the Spanish Classes offered for our Fall Semester.

Beginning Spanish I (Mondays @ 7:30 p.m.) Are you completely new to Spanish or language learning? Is your high school Spanish class just a distant memory? Do you want to start or start over with the basics? This is a great place to begin.Students set the pace of this class, and the instructor works with you to make sure your learning goals are met and your questions are answered. You will learn basic greetings, basic sentence structure, how to ask questions, and how to use regular verbs in the present tense. You will also learn basic vocabulary, including words pertaining to the house, classroom, clothing, food and drink.Textbook: Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Spanish

Beginning I is currently at capacity. To add your name to the waiting list, email nmccormick@abergcenter.org.

Beginning Spanish III (Mondays @ 6:00 p.m.) Do you want to continue learning Spanish? In this course, you will learn to express yourself in more advanced ways and will begin having simple conversations. New vocabulary words will help you express yourself more effectively. We will cover chapters 24 through 36 in the Basic Spanish book and get our toes wet with the Easy Spanish Reader.Textbook: Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Spanish

Intermediate I (Mondays @ 6:00 p.m.)

Are you tired of living in the present? Let’s take a look at the past! Intermediate I is a continuation of Beginning III. The course will begin with a review of present tense (especially stem-changing, irregular, and reflexive verbs), ser & estar, and the vocabulary covered in the beginning courses. The bulk of the course will then be spent learning and practicing the past tenses, which include the preterite and the imperfect. The pace of the course will be determined by the needs of the students in the class. This is a very interactive, fun and dynamic class with a relaxed atmosphere. We welcome those who are continuing from Beginning III as well as those who have the necessary background to jump into this level. If you are uncertain as to whether or not you are ready for this level, contact us, and we can help you choose.

We invite you to continue building your language skills and oral proficiency this summer! This course will begin with a review of the material covered in Intermediate I & II, including present tense, preterite, imperfect, conditional, and future. Then the bulk of the course will be spent on an introduction to the present subjunctive and commands. These verb forms are useful for expressing your wishes, doubts, and emotions, and are an integral part of everyday conversation in Spanish. We will continue our emphasis on listening and speaking, with some practice with reading and writing.

The course is carried out in Spanish and assumes an intermediate-level familiarity with Spanish grammar.The course objective is to reach an intermediate-level speaking proficiency. The objective is achieved by reading intermediate-level texts; engaging in lively conversations surrounding themes found in the texts; acquiring vocabulary related to the readings; and, reviewing story-related grammar. Sample readings include newspaper/ magazine articles, song lyrics, poems, and a simple novel. Texts are selected based on student needs and interest.Textbook: TBD the first week of class with an expected cost of ~$20

Advanced Contemporary Literature & Conversation (Mondays @ 6:00 p.m.) Are you an advanced Spanish speaker who is ready to discuss stories, short films, and poems by contemporary Latin American authors? If so, then you will love this class!Have fun putting your Spanish grammar and vocabulary to use while exploring Latin American literature, current events, and culture. Expand your proficiency and increase your confidence with the Spanish language through guided discussions focusing on comprehension, communication, and pronunciation. Augment your learning with exposure to short films, articles, poems, and stories to broaden your knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world. Topics will be varied, highlighting different Latin American countries. Participants will need to have advanced Spanish skills to best participate. ¡A charlar y conversar!Textbook:Bordering Fires/Voces Sin Fronteras

Students may purchase new or used copies of the book. As there is not a bilingual copy of the book, students will need to purchase both the English and Spanish version. For an additional challenge, however, students can purchase only the Spanish edition.

Aberg Center reserves the right to cancel classes with fewer than eight students enrolled.

Aberg Center will only issue a refund if there are not enough students to make a class.

If an enrolled student drops the class, the student may request that the remaining portion of the payment be considered a donation.

SPANISH TEACHERS

Learn more about our Instructors

JOY SAUNDERSHi. My name is Joy Saunders. I have many years of experience teaching Spanish, and I am really looking forward to teaching again at Aberg Center this session. Teaching has been a passion of mine as far back as I can remember, starting when I was a child and tutored my classmates, friends and siblings. My background in Spanish includes a Masters degree in Spanish Literature, a Ph.D. in Spanish Linguistics (Second Language Acquisition), and a love of the Spanish language and cultures. I have taught at several local universities including UTA, TCU and the University of Dallas. I am currently teaching at SMU. My goal for this course is to challenge my students intellectually while providing a fun and supportive environment for learning some basic Spanish skills. ¡Hasta pronto!

OMAR VALDEZHola a todos! My name Is Omar Valdez. I am a teacher of Spanish and French around the DFW area. I love teaching and learning new languages. My teaching philosophy is to keep it fun, interesting and interactive. Languages need to be spoken so I make sure that we get plenty of practice during our time together. I look forward to meeting you in one of our classes!

JOSE (JAY) TAMEZ¡Saludos, amigos!
I am Jay, a native of northern Mexico who immigrated to the U.S. as a child. I was fortunate to grow up speaking both English and Spanish. My formal study of the Spanish language began in high school, took me to Cuernavaca, Mexico and culminated at U.T.A. where I earned a Master’s in Spanish Acquisition and Culture. I taught at U.T.A for a decade before moving to El Centro College where I currently teach.
My teaching philosophy is “un alumno dormido no aprende.” Meaning, you won’t doze off in our class. Learning Spanish will be a collaboration since we are on this journey together. Please bring your positive energy to our classroom. My goal is for us to enjoy and maximize the time we spend together. My passion for the language and culture motivated me to explore several countries in Latin-America and Spain. I trust many of you are eager to use Spanish in your travels. I look forward to sharing my training and cultural knowledge with you! Nos vemos en el aula. Hasta muy pronto.